Flameproof covering material, such as ticking

ABSTRACT

This invention is concerned with flameproofed covering material formed of a textile fabric, especially cover fabrics or ticking materials for mattresses, pillows and sleeping bags, pads, cushions for chairs or sofas, slip covers for the latter, and so on. The flameproofed materials of the present invention may be formed of a close-woven fabric coated with (1) a thin layer (the intermediate layer) of plastic foam which is crushed and (2) a heat-conductive metal layer, such as of aluminum, which dissipates heat rapidly. The object is to protect the main body of highly combustible filler material in cushions, pillows, mattresses, sofas, upholstered chairs, and the like from fire in case of the dropping of a match, cigarette or the like on the cover fabric or ticking by someone, such as a careless smoker.

United States Patent [191 Brodnyan [451 Dec. 17,1974

[75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Rohm and Haas Company,

Philadelphia, Pa.

22 Filed: June 1, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 258,758

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart 0f Ser. No.255,880, May 10,

1972, abandoned.

John G. Brodnyan, Langhorne, Pa.

[52] US. Cl 117/68, 117/10, 117/11, 117/65.2,117/71R,117/160 R [51] Int.Cl. B056 9/04 [58] Field 01' Search 117/68, 76 T, 71 R, 8, 117/9, 10,11, 160 R; 161/159, 160, 161

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,306,046 12/1942 Duggan C1111 117/68 X 2,769.72] 11/1956 Converse 117/76 X 2,790.735 4/1957McLaughlin et :11 117/76 X 2,820,721 1/1958 Hitchcock 6t 81. 117/76 X3,020,173 2/1962 Sticffenhofer l 117/76 X 3,030,232 4/1962 Morganstern t117/68 X 3,095,318 6/1963 PiiZOld 1 117/68 3,527,654 9/1970 Jones et a1.117/76 X 3,565,661 2/1971 Harrison 117/76 X 3,573,964 4/1971 Jones117/76 3,607,341 9/1971 Goins et a1 117/10 3,642,516 2/1972 Gasaway eta1 .l 117/76 X 3,649,325 3/1972 Affeldt 117/11 Primary Examiner-WilliamD. Marvin Assistant Examiner-M. R. Lusignan Attorney, Agent, orFirmTerrence P. Strobaugh 5 7 ABSTRACT This invention is concerned withflameproofed covering material formed of a textile fabric, especiallycover fabrics or ticking materials for mattresses, pillows and sleepingbags, pads, cushions for chairs or sofas, slip covers for the latter,and so on. The flameproofed materials of the present invention may beformed of a close-woven fabric coated with (l) a thin layer (theintermediate layer) of plastic foam which is crushed and (2) aheat-conductive metal layer, such as of aluminum, which dissipates heatrapidly. The object is to protect the main body, of highly combustiblefiller material in cushions, pillows, mattresses, sofas, upholsteredchairs, and the like from fire in case of the dropping of a match,cigarette or the like on the cover fabric or ticking by someone, such asa careless smoker.

12 Claims, N0 Drawings FLAMEPROOF COVERING MATERIAL, SUCH AS TICKINGThis application is a continuation-in-part of an application filed byJohn G. Brodnyan, May 10, 1972, entitled FLAMEPROOF COVERING MATERIAL,SUCH AS TICKING, Ser. No. 255,880 now abandoned.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It has heretofore been the practice inmaking ironing board covers to apply a coating of metal particles, suchas of aluminum, to the face or back of the cover to provide rapiddissipation of heat. However, ticking fabric materials are in general,relatively thin and generally have a printed decorative design on theexposed face. Consequently, the placing of a metal-particlecontaininglayer directly on the face would obscure the design and if it wereplaced on the back or inside surface of the ticking fabric, it resultsin an undesirable appearance of the coated ticking because the metallayer is visible to observers as they look at the outside of the coveredarticle, such as a mattress, the effect observed being commonly referredto as grin-through. In addition, the metal-coated covering fabric isstiffened detrimentally.

In accordance with the present invention, these disadvantages have beenovercome by first coating one surface, preferably the back surface whichbecomes the inside surface in use, of the covering material, such as aticking fabric, with a thin opaque coating of a flexible foamed plasticmaterial, crushing the foamed layer, and coating the other surface ofthe foamed layer with a metal-containing coating. The foam may becrushed before or after the metal-containing layer is applied, butpreferably before.

The opaque foam layer prevents grin-through and also assures themaintenance of flexibility in spite of the normal tendency of the metalcoating to stiffen the fabric undesirably. It is essential that thefoamed composition in the dry condition be soft and flexible. Thethickness of the crushed foam layer may be from about to mils, the lowerlimit being predicated on the need of a certain minimum thickness tocounteract the stiffening effect of the metal layer applied to the foamlayer. The maximum thickness of the foamed composition is influenced bythe desirability to avoid too great a mass of combustible materialbetween the cover fabric (or ticking) and the metal coating or layerwhich serves to protect the highly combustible filling or stuffing ofthe mattress, pillow, cushion or the like from the heat developed byburning of the cover fabric proper. The amount of the crushed foamdeposited should be from about 1 oz. to about 4 ounces per square yard.Preferably, it is from 1.5 to 2.5 oz./sq. yd.

The composite cover fabric of the present invention prevents burning ofthe fibrous filler body of pads, cushions, pillows, mattresses, sofas,and the like when a lighted cigarette or match comes into contact withthe cover fabric or ticking enclosing the fibrous filling material. Thelighted object may cause smoldering or burning of a small area in directcontact with the burning segment of a cigarette, match, or the like, butthe combustion of this small area quickly brings the metal coating intoplay and, as a consequence, the heat in that small area is quicklydissipated through the metal layer, rapidly bringing the burning orsmoldering items or segments down in temperature so that they themselvesare extinguished and preventing the rise in temperature of the highlycombustible fibrous filling material to the temperature of combustion.

Heretofore, the general practice was to use as the ticking fabric, arather tightly woven fabric, e.g., cotton to the face of which adecorative design may be applied as by printing, or a heavy damaskfabric in which a decorative effect may be provided in the weaving. Thepresent invention is applicable to such cover fabrics. But it is alsoapplicable to thin ticking fabrics having a weave as open as cheesecloth such as a 40 cotton, and after applying the foam layer, the foam/-cloth composite may be printed with a decorative design on either faceand the metal-containing layer may then be provided on the face oppositeto that carrying the printed design. This versatility is a distinctadvantage of the present invention.

The thickness of the metal coating or layer may be from about V2 to 6mils, preferably 2 to 4 mils. The metal in the coating may be a powderedmetal, the particles or flakes thereof being bonded together in a binderof a combustion-resistant material, or the metal may be applied by achemical plating on an electroplating process wherein no organic binderis used. Again, the metal may be applied by a sputtering process or by avacuum metallizing process wherein a small amount of metal is vaporizedin a vacuum within which the crushed foam/ticking laminate is eitherdisposed with the ticking surface as well as the crushed foam surfaceexposed or disposed with a removable protective film, e.g., ofpolyethylene, against the front face of the ticking to prevent its beingcoated by the metal, the protective film being removed after themetallizing operation, if desired. A wide variety of metals may be used,such as aluminum, nickel, silver, bismuth, antimony, tin, zinc andalloys, such as stainless steel, brass, bronze, solder, woods metal,etc. At present aluminum is preferred.

When the metal is deposited by applying a coating composition comprisingthe metal particles in a polymeric binder, the proportion of metalshould be at least about 25 percent by weight of the binder, andpreferably is at least 40 to 50 percent or more by weight thereof. Theamount of the metal-containing coating is from about 0.5 to 4 oz./sq.yd. and preferably 1 to 2 oz./sq. yd.

The metal layer may be continuous or it may also be in the form of afoamed or a crushed foam layer wherein it is somewhat discontinuous, buthas the ad vantage of being more or less permeable, i.e. it has thequality of breathability, which makes it more comfortable to a personsitting or lying upon the pad, cushion, mattress or the like, especiallyin hot weather.

When the metal layer is formed from a metal powder/binder composition,the binder used should be of a flameresistant polymer, such as a polymerof vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, or other halogencontaining vinylmonomer. Regardless of what type of polymer is used, it should be onethat is of flexible, rather than stiff, nature.

Preferred compositions are those based on aqueous dispersions ofemulsion copolymers of monoethylenically unsaturated monomers having agroup of the formula including vinyl monomers, especially of vinylchloride, vinylidene chloride or mixtures thereof. Since these monomersproduce hard and rigid homopolymers, they are copolymerized withmonomers which, when homopolymerized produce polymers which are soft andflexible. Examples of the latter type of monomer are ethylene, ethylacrylate, butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate which are included inthe general class of acrylic acid esters of alcohols having 1 to 18 ormore carbon atoms and amyl methacrylate, Z-ethylhexyl methacrylate andoctadecyl methacrylate which are included in the general class ofmethacrylic acid esters of alcohols having 5 to 18 carbon atoms. Thecopolymers may also include appreciable amounts of other hardeningmonomers, such as styrene, vinyltoluene, acrylonitrile, and vinylacetate provided the particular softening monomer in the amount thereofused is able to provide the desired flexibility for the particularlaminated covering material in its intended use without requiring areduction of the halogenated monomer to such an extent as to make thebinder of the metal layer too susceptible to combustion. The copolymermay also comprise small amounts (0.l to 2 percent by weight) of an acidsuch as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and itaconic acid, to provideimproved stability of the emulsion polymer and ease of thickening byadjustment of pH of the system. Small amounts (0.5 to 5 percent byweight) of other reactive monomers may be included to provideself-crosslinking properties to the copolymer and/or to favor reactionof the metal layer binder with the intermediate foam layer and therebyprovide chemical bonding and the advantages of this type of adhesionbetween the metal layer and the intermediate foam layer.

The amount of powdered metal in such compositions should beat leastabout 20 percent by weight, based on the total solids Weight of thecomposition, and is preferably 40 to 50 percent or more by weight of thetotal solids.

The dry weight of the powdered metal-containing coating applied to theintermediate foam coating layer should be in the range of 0.5 to 4ounces per square yard. The metal particles or flakes may have a widerange of sizes. Metal particles of sizes in the range of 0.02 to 0.1mm., preferably 0.03 to 0.05, are quite practical. The selection of sizeis made to assure extensive contact between the metal particles toprovide for rapid conduction of heat from one area to another in thecoating.

in the metal coatings obtained by chemical or electrical plating, bysputtering, or by vacuum metallization it is only necessary to provideadequate weight of metal deposit to obtain essential continuity of themetal coating film deposited, but much heavier thicknesses of the metalare permissible. Generally, a metal deposit of about 0.1 oz. or more,e.g., to 0.5 oz./sq. yd. is adequate. In this situation, the upper limitof thickness or weight of metal is determined by the amount offlexibility necessary in the particular use. While a metal foil may beused, it is preferable to avoid it because of the tendency to develop acrackling noise when. the composite cover fabric is flexed.

The intermediate layer of a foamed polymeric material is composed of avinyl addition polymer to which there may be added a filler and/orpigment to provide greater opacity and, if desired, color.

The polymer from which this intermediate layer is formed may or may notcontain halogenated monomer to impart flameproof qualities thereto. Itmay be primarily a copolymer of ethylene or of an acrylic acid ester ofan alcohol having 1 to 18 carbon atoms orof a methacrylic acid ester ofan alcohol having from 5 to 18 carbon atoms. Such monomeric componentspro vide a soft, highly flexible foamed layer. One or more these estersmay be copolymerized with one or more hardening comonomers, such as a (C-C alkyl methacrylate, e.g. methyl, ethyl, propyl, or butylmethacrylate, acrylonitrile, styrene, vinyltoluene, vinyl acetate, vinylchloride, or vinylidene chloride. Suitable copolymers are thus obtainedprovided the relative amounts between the soft and the hardeningmonomers are maintained so that the copolymers obtained are still adequately flexible for the purposes of the present invention. Thecopolymers may also contain small amounts of reactive monomers, such asfrom 0.1 to 5 percent by weight of one or more of the following:acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-rnethylolacrylamide,N-methylolmethacrylamide, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and itaconicacid to act as internal crosslinking agents in the copolymer for settingit by heating in foamed condition. Preferably, these copolymers are madeby emulsion polymerization processes and the aqueous dispersionsobtained are mixed with fillers or pigments and foamed in known fashionto provide a foamed mass having closed, or preferablyintercommunicating, cells.

The composition used for making the foam layer may comprise a fillerand/or pigment to assure good opacity of the foam layer. Suitablefillers include clay and hydrated alumina, and titanium dioxide may beused as a pigment to obtain white coloration. Other pigments or dyes,such as Monastral Blue, iron oxides, carbon black, and lead chromate,may be used if black and colors other than white are desired. The totalamount of filler and/or pigment, if used in the composition, may varywidely but is preferably in the range of about 25 to percent by weightof total solids.

A suitable method of forming a foam from an aqueous dispersion of one ofthese polymers is to prepare the emulsion copolymer at a solids contentof about 40 to 55 percent by weight, add a predispersed filler and- /orpigment if desired, a catalyst, and a foaming agent, which is preferablya type which stabilizes the foam while it is being set by heating it,and diluting the mixture, if necessary to suitable consistency. Thedispersion is whipped or beaten to entrain air therein, and when thedesired foamed condition is reached, the agitation is stopped whileheating to set the foamed condition while drying the foamed mass. Theheating to dry and set the foamed mass may be to various temperaturesfor various times, depending on the water content, the reactivity of thereactive groups in the polymer, and whether or not an externalcross-linking or setting agent is used. Examples of the latter arewatersoluble condensates of formaldehyde with urea, N,N- ethyleneurea,or arninotriazines, such as melamine or benzoguanamine. When thecopolymer contains N- methylol-acrylamide or -methacrylamide with orwithout an external cross-linking agent, an acidic catalyst may be used,such as ammonium chloride, oxalic acid, diammonium phosphate, or anamine salt of an acid, such as hydrochloric acid, wherein the amine maybe triethylamine, triethanolarnine, etc.

When the copolymer contains N-methylolacrylamide orN-methylolmethacrylamide, drying and setting may be accomplished byheating in the range of 100 to 200C. for a period of about half a minuteat the higher temperature to about half an hour or longer at the lowertemperature. A temperature of about 145 to 150C. for a period of 3 to 5minutes is generally quite practical.

The intermediate layer may be formed in situ on the cover fabric orticking by spreading the freshly foamed polymer dispersion before it hasbeen set by heating onto the fabric at suitable thickness and thensubjecting the coated fabric to heat to dry it and set it. Near the endof the heating stage and before the cross-linking reaction has beencompleted, it is preferred that the foam/fabric laminate be passedthrough squeeze rolls to crush the foam without completely sealing thefoamed polymer mass into an integral, fused body so that the productstill has the character of permeability and porosity and is breathable.

Instead of crushing the foam at this stage, the heating may beterminated after the foamed polymer is dry and the crushing may beeffected by heating and pressing of the three-layer assemblage afterdeposition and drying of the metal-containing polymer layer either infoamed or unfoamed condition. This may be done by a hot calenderingoperation which may or may not involve a polishing action, e.g. above100C, and this calendering may serve to reduce defects by causing flowof the binder in the metal-containing layer to favor an increase of thecontact between metal particles therein and thereby increasingheat-conduction, electro-static conduction, and reflectivity of thelayer.

The present invention is applicable to provide a wide variety ofcovering materials adapted to serve as pillow cases, slip covers forupholstered chairs, sofas, cushions, etc., ticking for pillows, pads,sleeping bags, mattresses, etc., zippered covers for mattresses,pillows, cushions, upholstered chairs, beds, sofas, bedspreads,coverlets, and so forth.

In the following examples, which are illustrative of the invention,parts and percentages are by weight and temperatures are C. unlessotherwise specified.

EXAMPLE 1 a. A 60 percent solids filler dispersion is prepared byagitating a mixture of 42 parts of water, one part of a 25 percentaqueous solution of the sodium salt of a 1:1 mol ratio copolymer ofmaleic anhydride and diisobutylene, parts of a 2 percent aqueoussolution of hydroxyethyl cellulose of the grade QP-4400 (4400 cp. visc.of 2 percent solution at C.), 7.5 parts of titanium dioxide, 22.5 partsclay, and 55 parts hydrated alumina. This dispersion is added to 100parts of a 50 percent solids aqueous dispersion of an emulsion copolymerof about 65 percent ethyl acrylate, about 25.5 percent butyl acrylate,about 4.5 percent acrylonitrile, 3.5 percent acrylamide, and 1.5 percentitaconic acid while stirring and then 5.4 parts of a 33 percent aqueoussolution of ammonium stearate, 1.8 parts of a 33 percent solution ofsodium lauryl sulfate, and 1 part of 14 percent aqueous ammoniumhydroxide.

b. The mixture obtained in part (a) hereof is agitated to beat air intoit and then is spread onto the back face of a printed 80 X 80 cottonticking fabric of the type used in making mattresses to provide a 60-milthick layer. The foam-layer ticking fabric is dried 2 minutes at 280F.,then passed through squeeze rolls of a padder to crush the foam layer,and finally cured for 5 minutes at 300F. There is thus deposited about 4oz./sq. yd. of the crushed foam on the ticking.

0. An aluminum powder (25 parts) containing metal particles of about0.02 to 0.04 mm. size is mixed with 100 parts of a 46 percent solidsaqueous dispersion of an /20 weight ratio mixture of (1) an emulsioncopolymer of about 66 vinylidene chloride, 29 percent butyl acrylate,0.5 percent itaconic acid, about 3 percent acrylamide, and about 2percent N- methylolacrylamide, and (2) an emulsion copolymer of about 96percent of butyl acrylate, 2 percent of methacrylamide and 2 percent ofN-methylolacrylamide, 2 parts ofmethylene-bisdiarnylphenoxypoly(9)ethoxyethanol, 8 parts of a 25 percentaqueous solution of diammonium hydrogen phosphate, 15 parts of a 50percent aqueous solution of a copolymer of about 60 percent ethylacrylate, 39.5 percent methyl methacrylate and about 0.5 percent ofdiallyl phthalate, and 42.5 parts of water. The mixture is thoroughlystirred, yielding a 40 percent solids coating composition.

d. The resulting 40 percent solids composition obtained in part (c) iscoated onto the exposed surface of the crushed foarn of the foam/tickinglaminate obtained in part (b) to provide a 6-mil thick layer thereof.The coated assemblage is then dried four minutes at 280C, yielding adeposit of about 2 oz./sq. yd.

e. A simulated mattress for testing purposes is made by placing a pieceof cotton wadding (such as is used as mattress stuffing) 6 inches wide15 inches long and 4 inches thick in the center of an 80 cotton tickingfabric 12 inches wide by 15 inches long so that the 15-inch dimensionsof the wadding and the fabric extend in the same direction. Then a12-inch by 15-inch piece of the cover fabric to be tested, such as thelaminar assemblage obtained in part ((1) above, is laid on top of thebatting with its l2-inch and l5-inch dimensions coinciding with thecorresponding dimensions of the bottom fabric layer and with itsmetal-coated face in contact with the wadding. The two fabrics are sewntogether along the l5-inch edges of the wadding to compress the waddingalong the edges. Also, the wadding is compressed along a central lineparallel to the sewn edges by sewing the assemblage together along suchcentral line. The resulting simulated pad or mattress may then, ifdesired, be stretched taut by fastening the extended edges of one orboth cotton fabrics to opposite sides of a square frame having a squareopening within the four edge members thereof. The resulting pad has atrough formed by the central sewn line between two parallel bulgedridges one on each side of the central line. For testing, a burningcigarette is placed on the pad, either on top of one of the ridges orpreferably in the groove between them. The cigarette is allowed to burnitself out; if the wadding ignites, the ticking is a failure but if thewadding does not ignite before the cigarette burns out, the tickingpasses the test.

EXAMPLE 2 The procedure of Ex. 1 is repeated except that in part (d)thereof, the metal-containing composition is modir tied by inclusion ofafoam stabilizer or agent, specifically a mixture of about 4.3 parts ofa 33 percent aqueous solution of ammonium stearate and 1.4 parts of a 33percent aqueous solution of sodium lauryl sulfate. The mixture is beateninto a foam which is spread on the surface of the foam layer of thecomposite obtained in Ex. 1 part (b) to provide a thickness of about 60mils and after drying for 2 minutes at 280F., the composite is passedthrough squeeze rolls of a textile pad to crush the foamedmetal-containing layer after which curing is completed by heating fourminutes at 280F., yielding a composite material in which themetal-containing coating is present in an amount of about 3.5 oz./sq.yd. This fabric when made into a simulated mattress, passes the testdescribed in Ex. 1 (e).

EXAMPLE 3 Ex. 1 is repeated except that the emulsion polymer of part (a)is replaced with a corresponding amount (solids) of the same emulsioncopolymer used in part EXAMPLE 4 EXAMPLE 5 Ex. 4 is repeated except thatthe emulsion copolymer used in part a) is a copolymer of 96 percentethyl acrylate, 3.5 percent acrylamide, and 0.5 percent acrylic acid.The cover fabric obtained also passes the test of Ex. 1 (e).

EXAMPLE 6 The procedure of Ex. l is repeated except that the emulsioncopolymer used in part (a) is a copolymer of 86 percent ethyl acrylate,percent acrylonitrile and about 2 percent each of acrylamide and N-methylolacrylamide. The cover fabric obtained passes the test of- Ex. 1(e).

EXAMPLE 7 Ex. 6 is repeated except that the metal-containing coating ofpart (c) is modified by inclusion of the foam stabilizing agent of Ex. 2and the procedure of Ex. 2 is used for depositing the metal-containingcoating as a crushed foam.

The simulated mattress made using the composite material of this examplepasses the test.

EXAMPLE 8 Ex. 1 is repeated except in part (c) thereof, the aqueousdispersion is an emulsion copolymer of about 80 percent vinyl chlorideand percent ethylene.

The simulated mattress made using the composite material of this examplepasses the test.

EXAMPLE 9 Ex. 1 is repeated except in part (c) thereof, the aqueousdispersion is an emulsion copolymer of about 60 percent vinyl chloride,38 percent butyl acrylate, 1.5 percent acrylamide and 0.5 percentitaconic acid.

The simulated mattress made using the composite material of this examplepasses the test.

EXAMPLE l0 Ex. 9 is repeated except that the metal-containing coating ofpart (c) is modified by inclusion of the same amount of thefoam-stabilizing agent of Ex. 2 and the procedure of Ex. 2 is used fordepositing the metalcontaining coating as a crushed foam. The simulatedmattress passes the test.

EXAMPLE 1 1 EXAMPLE 12 The process of Ex. 1 is carried out except thatin part (c) the aluminum powder is replaced with 23 parts of stainlesssteel powder, the particles of which range in size from 0.05 to 0.1 mm.The simulated mattress passes the test.

EXAMPLE 13 The process of Ex. 1 is carried out except that in part (c)the aluminum powder is replaced with 23 parts of silver powder, theparticles of which range in size from 0.03 to 0.07 mm. The simulatedmattress passes the test.

EXAMPLE 14 The process of Ex. l is carried out except that in part (c)the aluminum powder is replaced with 23 parts of nickel powder, theparticles of which range in size from 0.03 to 0.06 mm. The simulatedmattress passes the test.

EXAMPLE 15 The process of Ex. l is carried out except that in part (c)the aluminum powder is replaced with 23 parts of tin powder, theparticles of which range in size from 0.02 to 0.04 mm. The simulatedmattress passes the test.

EXAMPLE 16 The process of Ex. 1 is carried out except that in part (c)the aluminum powder is replaced with 23 parts of anodized alumimumpowder, the particles of which range in size from 0.02 to 0.04 mm. Thesimulated mattress passes the test.

EXAMPLE 17 The process of Ex. 1 is carried out except that in part (c)the aluminum powder is replaced with 23 parts of bronze powder, theparticles of which range in size from 0.03 to 0.7 mm. The simulatedmattress passes the test.

I claim:

1. A cover fabric of composite-layer type comprising a lightweight wovenor damask fabric. a soft, flexible layer adhered thereto formed of acrushed foam of a polymeric material and a metal-containing coating ofabout 0.5 to 4 oz./square yard composed of metal particles in apolymeric binder wherein the proportion of metal is at least 25 percentby weight of the binder on the crushed foam layer, the metal content ofwhich serves to conduct heat rapidly through this layer.

2. A cover fabric according to claim 1 in which the fabric is providedwith a decorative design on its exposed surface.

3. A cover fabric according to claim 1 in which the metal-containinglayer is also crushed foam.

4. A cover fabric according to claim 1 in which the thickness of thecrushed foam layer is from 5 to 20 mils and the weight thereof in thecomposite is in the range of l to 4 oz./sq. yd.

5. A cover fabric according to claim 1 which the thickness of themetal-containing coating is from 0.5 to 6 mils and the weight thereof inthe composite fabric is from 0.5 to 4 oz. per sq. yd.

6. A cover fabric according to claim 1 in which the metal in themetal-containing layer is selected from the group consisting ofaluminum, nickel, silver, bismuth, antimony, tin, zinc, stainless steel,brass, bronze and Woods metals.

7. A cover fabric according to claim 1 in which the metal in themetal-containing layer is specifically aluminum having a particle sizein the range of 0.02 to 0.1 mm.

8. A cover fabric according to claim 1 in which the foam layer containsa filler and the proportion of filler in the foam is from 25 to percentby weight of the weight of dried foam.

9. A cover fabric according to claim 1 in which the metal in themetal-containing layer is specifically anodized aluminum having aparticle size in the range of 0.02 to 0.1 mm.

10. A cover fabric according to claim 1 in which the metal in themetal-containing layer is specifically stainless steel having a particlesize in the range of 0.02 to 0.1 mm.

11. A cover fabric according to claim 1 in which the foam layer containsa pigment and the proportion of pigment in the foam is from 25 to 75percent by weight of the weight of dried foam.

12. A cover fabric according to claim 1 in which the foam layer containsa filler and pigment and the proportion of filler and pigment in thefoam is from 25 to 75 percent by weight of the weight of dried foam.

1. A COVER FABRIC OF COMPOSITE-LAYER TYPE COMPRISING A LIGHT-WEIGHTWOVEN OR DAMASK FABRIC, A SOFT, FLEXIBLE LAYER ADHERED THERETO FORMED OFA CRUSHED FOAM OF A POLYMERIC MATERIAL AND A METAL-CONTAINING COATING OFABOUT 0.5 TO 4 OX./SQUARE YARD COMPOSED OF METAL PARTICLES IN APOLYMERIC BINDER WHEREIN THE PROPORTION OF METAL AT LEASTT 25 PERCENT BYWEIGHT OF THE BINDER ON THE CRUSHED FOAM LAYER, THE METAL CONTENT OFWHICH SERVES TO CONDUCT HEAT RAPIDLY THROUGH THIS LAYER.
 2. A coverfabric according to claim 1 in which the fabric is provided with adecorative design on its exposed surface.
 3. A cover fabric according toclaim 1 in which the metal-containing layer is also crushed foam.
 4. Acover fabric according to claim 1 in which the thickness of the crushedfoam layer is from 5 to 20 mils and the weight thereof in the compositeis in the range of 1 to 4 oz./sq. yd.
 5. A cover fabric according toclaim 1 which the thickness of the metal-containing coating is from 0.5to 6 mils and the weight thereof in the composite fabric is from 0.5 to4 oz. per sq. yd.
 6. A cover fabric according to claim 1 in which themetal in the metal-containing layer is selected from the groupconsisting of aluminum, nickel, silver, bismuth, antimony, tin, zinc,stainless steel, brass, bronze and Wood''s metals.
 7. A cover fabricaccording to claim 1 in which the metal in the metal-containing layer isspecifically aluminum having a particle size in the range of 0.02 to 0.1mm.
 8. A cover fabric according to claim 1 in which the foam layercontains a filler and the proportion of filler in the foam is from 25 to75 percent by weight of the weight of dried foam.
 9. A cover fabricaccording to claim 1 in which the metal in the metal-containing layer isspecifically anodized aluminum having a particle size in the range of0.02 to 0.1 mm.
 10. A cover fabric according to claim 1 in which themetal in the metal-containing layer is specifically stainless steelhaving a particle size in the range of 0.02 to 0.1 mm.
 11. A coverfabric according to claim 1 in which the foam layer contains a pigmentand the proportion of pigment in the foam is from 25 to 75 percent byweight of the weight of dried foam.
 12. A cover fabric according toclaim 1 in which the foam layer contains a filler and pigment and theproportion of filler and pigment in the foam is from 25 to 75 percent byweight of the weight of dried foam.